You Earned This: The Social Security & Medicare Podcast!

President Trump promised to protect Social Security, while doing just the opposite. According to new research, it has become harder for workers to claim Social Security Disability Insurance benefits since Trump took office again. One of the study's authors says this is partly because of severe staffing cutbacks by Trump and DOGE at the Social Security Administration… AND … the Social Security Commissioner's out-of-touch "technology agenda" that leaves many people with disabilities behind.  Katie Savin is assistant professor in the division of social work at California State University, Sacramento.  Katie knows this topic better than most – because they were a disability beneficiary as a young adult. They tell us more about the difficulties people with disabilities are having when trying to claim Social Security benefits under the Trump regime.  See a couple of corrections to the show content below. CORRECTIONS: 1) Children under 18 do not receive SSDI benefits based on their own work history and would generally apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).    2)  When Katie speaks about "somebody receiving disability benefits who was in their 70's," they meant "someone in their 60s" since SSDI converts to retirement benefits at full retirement age.  

Terrence Roberts (84), is one of the surviving members of the Little Rock Nine, the group of Black students who desegregated Central High School in 1957.  Nearly 70 years later, Terry shares his vivid recollections -- and reflections -- from that historic period.  We revisit all of it - the white mobs threatening to kill Terry and his fellow students, President Eisenhower federalizing the National Guard, and the tumult inside the halls of the school. As an adult, Terry went into psychology and continued his advocacy for racial equity and understanding, believing in the power of interpersonal dialogue to improve life for everyone. Join us for this fascinating look back at 20th century civil rights history with someone who was at the epicenter -- and says there is more work to do! 

AI may threaten human existence, but in the meantime it may also be compelling older workers to leave the workforce early. Many of them are leaving of their own volition, anxious about adapting to AI. Economics professor Geoffrey Sanzenbacher (Boston College) tells us which aging workers are more vulnerable or 'exposed' to AI and why. At the same time, he says, there are older employees who are quickly adapting! It's a fascinating discussion that anyone grappling with the fast-moving impacts of AI will want to hear! 

We wouldn't have Social Security without Franklin D. Roosevelt. It's one of the legacy programs that the Roosevelt Institute works to preserve. This week's guest is Roosevelt Institute CEO Elizabeth Wilkins. Elizabeth tells us that today there's a broken feedback loop between what people want and what government does… and that - despite what the financial elites say - we can fund Social Security for the future without any benefit cuts. She also says that in these troubled times, people crave the kind of visionary leadership that FDR provided during his time in office. Elizabeth has a long track record of public service, including key roles in the Obama and Biden administrations. In this episode, she also talks about the legacy of her father, civil rights advocate and attorney, Roger Wilkins. 

Author and journalist Phil Moeller (formerly of PBS NewsHour) says our privately-owned health care system is too expensive, including Medicare Advantage. Meanwhile, our 'key markers of well-being,' in terms of longevity and health, are near the bottom of Western countries. He also blames Trump's immigration crackdown for a growing shortage of caregivers. Phil brings his outside-the-box thinking on health care and caregiving for seniors to this fascinating episode. He is currently author of the "Aging in America" Substack. Visit philmoeller.substack.com.